New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-01
RESORTING TO DYNAMITE.
EXPLOSION ON AN OLD DOMINION STEAM
SHIP.
THE GUYANDoTTE VICTIM OF STRIKERS REVENGE
A TERRIFIC SHOCK WHEN OFF LONG
BRANCH - TWO PERSONS SLIGHT
LY HURT-THE VESSEL RE-

LY HURr-THE VESSEL RE-
TURNS TO PORT.
There was terrific explosion on the steamer
Guyandottc. of the Old Dominion Steamship Line,
last evening at ten minutes of 9 o'clock. It oc-
Cured as the steamer was passing Long Branch on
her way to Norfolk, Va. Fortunately there were no
lives lost. The only thing that prevented serious
loss of life was that the passengers were in the
saloon. while the crew were forward waiting for
the call to dinner.
The steamer left Pier No. 81, North River, about
o'clock. In consequence of the strike the CON-
pany had not been able to handle its full amount of
freight and there was only about half the usual
cargo on board. There was no special kind OF
freight, the cargo consisting of general asso-t-
ment. Shortly before the ship left the pier the
passengers came on board. There were FIVE saloon
passengers and about fifteen in the steerage. The
steamer went slowly down tho bay and when she
turned the point Of Sandy Hook she put on full
speed and proceeded down the coast
Captain John A. Kelly was on the bridge With
the second officer and was giving orders to his sub
ordinate prior to leaving the bridge to 90 below
when the explosion occurred
The shock shook the vessel from stem to stern,
and it seemed from the way she careened as if there
had been hole blown in the steamers bottom and
she was making water rapidly. The captain rang
for the engineer to stop the boat and hurried alt,
where the force of the explosion appeared to be the
greatest For about forty feet from the stern the
deck of tho ship strewn with spnters ana
pieces of timber and iron work There Was hole
between fifteen and twenty feet wide in the hurri-
cane deck and near the hole the woodwork on the
deck was strained and weakened 80 that it was
dangerous 10 walk on it.
At the time of the explosion James Justene was
sitting in the saloon about sixty feet from where 1t
occurred Ii seemed to him as if the whole stern of
the ship had been blown out. He was struck by
the splinters and injured, but seriously, and ran
hastily to the upper deck. ID. A. Kelly, steward,
WAS also struck by the splinters but escaped with
few slight bruises. He was going to the mess-room
at the time for glasses.
There was great excitement on the steamer
among the crew and passengers. This was re-
doubled when there was another noise when
sounded like second explosion, and it was feared
that there might be explosives in many parts OF the
ship The crew Of forty-two men were ordered by
the captain on deck and to the forward part OF the
snip, where they placed in the charge OF an
officer There slightly rebeious spirit appar-
ent among the men. who seemed to be impressed by
the general fear that something was going to
happen.
Moments OF suspense followed. Captain Kelly
ordered all the passengers the hurricane deck as
the safest place and then went into the saloon 1t
was partly filled with debris lie cautiously picked
his way aft and found that the explosion had oc-
curred in tho tollet-room the starboard quarter
of the vessel An examination made between
decka and the hold of tho vessel found to be
uunurcd. though some of the timbers ere slight
~ svlit ihc framework and outside Of the vessel
were all right
thorough examination convinced Captain
Kelly that to proceed down the coast oud be haz-
ardous although if bad weather was not met the
ship could be taken to Norfolk SO he turned the
prov of the Guy andottc toward this city and slow
y steamed to the Beach-st. pier. The machinery is
over "A hundred feet from the toilct-room and was
not injured. Before arriving at the pier tho passen
gers fears allaycd, there was no further e1-
ploson and the vessel appeared to DO unhurt
Robert Slpclair, a mcs,-boy, says that he saw
susplcous-ooking person on the steamer few mo-
ments bciors leaving the pier. lie a stout man.
of medium size. with lrown mustache and side
whiskers and was dressed in light-brown over
coat with dark trousers and q derby hat lle
acted as if he was nervous Shortly before starting
time the man Disappeared Just as the last bell
rang the mcss-boy this man hurry from the
toilet room and run down the gang plank. The man
was not seen to speak TO any one on board and
seemed TO be trying TO avoid notice 1t is supposed
that this person left package of dynamite III the
toiet-room i'll a small handbag that ho carried.
There was much debris lear the toietroom
that IL thorough investigation could not DO made
last evening